The August 6, 2009 issue of CongressDaily has a story titled "Air Force urged to consider Navy F-18s" by Megan Scully. I don't know how influential this publication is for lawmakers and opinion leaders in Washington DC. This article has been discussed on other defense and aviation forums.
NOTE: Despite the article's provocative title, lawmakers are urging the Air Force to consider all "generation 4.5" aircraft and not just the F-18 specifically. Please read the article in its entirety before commenting.
It appears that 80 percent of Air Force/Air National Guard F-16s currently performing Air Sovereignty Alert missions will retire before their replacements are ready.
Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., co-chairman of the Senate National Guard Caucus, and other lawmakers are pushing the Department of Defense and Air Force to consider purchasing "4.5 generation" fighters for ASA. These individuals are encouraging that all "4.5 generation" solutions be considered including the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The House of Representatives has passed a fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that includes an amendment by Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., requiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates to review buying advanced F-15s, F-16s and F-18s for the Air National Guard.
The article then states that the Air Force is not interested in purchasing new "4.5 generation" generation fighters because of the F-22 and F-35 programs.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43334&dcn=todaysnews
Is it possible that lawmakers are going to twist the Air Force's arm to buy new "4.5 generation fighters" for ASA? Can the F-16s scheduled for retirement have their lives extended so their F-35 replacements can be manufactured?
NOTE: Despite the article's provocative title, lawmakers are urging the Air Force to consider all "generation 4.5" aircraft and not just the F-18 specifically. Please read the article in its entirety before commenting.
It appears that 80 percent of Air Force/Air National Guard F-16s currently performing Air Sovereignty Alert missions will retire before their replacements are ready.
According to a Government Accountability Office report released this year, the Air Force will not have viable aircraft after fiscal 2015 at some of its 18 ASA sites in the United States -- 16 of which are run by the Guard. By 2032, two sites will still not have viable aircraft for the mission
Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., co-chairman of the Senate National Guard Caucus, and other lawmakers are pushing the Department of Defense and Air Force to consider purchasing "4.5 generation" fighters for ASA. These individuals are encouraging that all "4.5 generation" solutions be considered including the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The House of Representatives has passed a fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that includes an amendment by Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., requiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates to review buying advanced F-15s, F-16s and F-18s for the Air National Guard.
"To me, it's a very critical problem that needs immediate attention in order to avert a real catastrophe in eight to 10 years," LoBiondo said.
The article then states that the Air Force is not interested in purchasing new "4.5 generation" generation fighters because of the F-22 and F-35 programs.
Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, chief of the Air Guard, said last week he is "platform agnostic," but mentioned the F-18 -- along with the F-15 and F-16 -- as a possible solution, especially if the F-35 program falls behind schedule.
But the defense official expects the Air Force to reject any efforts to buy Super Hornets -- or any other older fighters. "The Air Force won't do it willingly, more than likely, because it doesn't meet their strategy," he said.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43334&dcn=todaysnews
Is it possible that lawmakers are going to twist the Air Force's arm to buy new "4.5 generation fighters" for ASA? Can the F-16s scheduled for retirement have their lives extended so their F-35 replacements can be manufactured?